Professionalism is a mindset that involves living up to set standards and expectations. This mentality allows you to manage your decisions, choices, and actions so your coworkers and colleagues know they can rely on your knowledge, competence, and perseverance, along with your overall enthusiasm, positivity, and integrity. They know they can count on you to do your job effectively. But professionalism is also a powerful tool to have when it comes to fighting personal fears in the workplace.
After a recent speaking engagement, an audience member praised my professionalism. When I think about it, I realize how lucky I am to have had the opportunity to build the qualities that support this mental toughness. Professionalism has helped me overcome fear throughout my career, whether I was facing tough circumstances, obstacles to a goal, or even baseless personal criticisms. And it can help you, too.
Professionalism can help you combat limiting beliefs that can sneak up on you and keep you mired in self-doubt. It can help you develop the kind of personal authority that keeps you patiently diligent, encourages you to seek order amidst chaos, and inspires you to get the job done despite obstacles and setbacks. I might have collapsed under the pressure of my fears–of the unknown…of rejection…of failure…and even of success and the weighty responsibility of it all–if I had not fortified myself with professionalism. No matter what kind of work you do, you can do it, as long as you remember to lean on your professionalism.
